SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 ST. MATTHEW, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST, FEAST “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts,” (Is. 55:8-9). Matthew was a Jew who worked for the occupying Roman forces, collecting taxes from other Jews. The Romans were not scrupulous about what the “tax farmers” got for themselves. Hence the latter, known as “publicans,” were generally hated as traitors by their fellow Jews. The Pharisees lumped them with “sinners” (see Matthew 9:11–13). So it was shocking to them to hear Jesus call such a man to be one of his intimate followers. Matthew got Jesus in further trouble by having a sort of going-away party at his house. His Gospel tells us that “many” tax collectors and “those known as sinners” came to the dinner. The Pharisees were still more badly shocked. What business did the supposedly great teacher have associating with such immoral people? Jesus’ answer was, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Matthew 9:12b–13). Jesus is not setting aside ritual and worship; he is saying that loving others is even more important. The Son of Man’s selection of Matthew emphasizes an important point in the plan of Redemption. Jesus invites all men to the Supper of the Lamb; regardless of culture, circumstance, or sinful past. Matthew was the son of Alpheus, a Galilean, and is one of the four Evangelists. His name means ‘gift of God’ in Hebrew and his emblem is a winged-man. COMMENT: From such an unlikely situation, Jesus chose one of the foundations of the church, a man whom others, judging from his job, thought was not holy enough for the position. But he was honest enough to admit that he was one of the sinners Jesus came to call. He was open enough to recognize truth when he saw him. “And he got up and followed him” (Matthew 9:9b).
Posted on: Sat, 21 Sep 2013 01:00:53 +0000
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